Knitting machine



y 17, 1956 v. J. LOMBARDI 2,754,669

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

Z lNVENToR w v/cro/e a LOMBARD/ fizzy/M Maca ATTORNEY July 17, 1956 v. J. LOMBARDI KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2. 1952 HI C511.

FIG. 2.

$5 mm. m m R 0 TY .3 0/

July 17, 1956 v. J. LOMBARDI I KNITTING'MACHINE Filed June 2. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 wi l? FIG. 3.

llllli INVENTOR V/CTOR J AOMBARD/ ORNEY July 17, 1956 v. J. LOMBARDI 2,754,669

' KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR V/CTO/P J LOMBA/PD/ July l7, 1956 J LQMBARD] 2,754,669

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR VICTOR d LOMBARD/ ATTORNEY y 17, 1956 v. J. LOMBARDI 2,754,669

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR V/C'TOR J. LOMB/IRD/ United States Patent KNITTING MACHINE Victor J. Lombardi, Miami, Fla., assignor to Vincent Lombardi, South Miami, Fla.

Application June 2, 1952, Serial No. 291,101

Claims. (CI. 6650) This invention relates to knitting machines and to correlated inventions and discoveries appertaining thereto.

In embodying Wrap yarn into a knitted fabric by wrap fingers which first swing in one direction past a multiplicity of needles to feed yarn thereto and then swing in the opposite direction past these needles to feed yarn thereto, the knitting of the yarn fed by the forward swing of the wrap-feed is relatively easily performed by an ordinary knitting cam, but the knitting of the yarn fed to the needles by the return swing of the wrap-feed is beset with difiiculties whenever this yarn is to be knit by a considerable number of needles. This is because, if an ordinary stitch cam is employed, the needle nearest the yarn-feed will knit first, and, once the yarn has been knitted into the fabric at this point, the yarn can no longer be pulled out freely from the yarn-feed for the knitting of loops by successive needles. It is accordingly important that the retractive or stitch portion of the knitting wave for this yarn progress in the opposite direction to the retractive knitting wave for the forward or advance swing of the wrap feed, i. e. in a direction opposite to that of the normal knitting waves.

Various solutions of these difficulties have been heretobefore proposed, but there are many situations wherein demands for simplicity, compactness, and general effectiveness of operation require an improved type of mechanism, and it is to the provision of such mechanism that the present invention is directed.

With the foregoing and other considerations in view, the present invention contemplates the provision of simple and effective means for imparting a retractive half-wave to knitting elements (e. g. needles, jacks, or sinkers), which half-wave moves in an opposite direction to the normal half-waves, and, in the more specific aspects of the invention, moves in a direction opposite to that half wave whereby the needles are advanced to receive yarn for retraction.

While the invention is exemplified in connection with a stationary cylinder machine comprising a forwardly-rotating cam ring and retractive cam means moving in the opposite direction thereto, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such arrangements, and that it is capable of embodiment in a wide variety of types of knitting machines.

As exemplified, the invention provides a bed, knitting elements on said bed, actuating mechanism for the knitting elements, the bed and the actuating mechanism being mounted for relative rotation so that the knitting elements will be actuated one-by-one counting in one direction, and other means to actuate said knitting elements one-by-one counting in the opposite direction, said other means com.- prising a cam rotating on the axis of said bed or said relative rotation and having with respect to said actuating mechanism, whichever moves a rotative speed of twice the speed of said relative rotation, and means to move said cam between operative and inoperative positions.

The invention further contemplates the provision of im- 2,754,669 Patented July 17, 1956 proved means for mounting and operating the rotating parts in a knitting machine.

The invention further @ntemplates the provision of simple and effective means for changing the position of the wrap feeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of one form of machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of one form of operation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion to the right of the portion shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a portion to the right of the portion shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary schematic view of a form of fabric produced by the operation shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a portion of another form of operation of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a portion to the right of the portion shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary schematic view of a form of fabric produced by the operation shown in Figs. 6 and 7;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view thru another part of the machine;

. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view along the lines 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a detailed perspective view.

In the form of construction shown in the drawings there is exemplified a circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder 5 carrying two-part latch needles 6 disposed in slots 7 formed between inserts 8 held, by means of a cap 9, within cuts 10 in the cylinder. The needles are held in place within the slots by means of annular coil springs 13 disposed between lugs 14 on the inserts 8.

In the form exemplified, the machine is provided with a plurality of main yarn feeds 15 adapted to revolve about the axis of the machine, and with a plurality of wrap feeds 16 carried from a stationary superstructure carried out.

' the needles; and then to reverse this course (ordinarily after the yarn fed in the forward swing has been knitted or otherwise incorporated in the fabric) so as to feed yarn to the needles in a reverse direction and to return to its starting point. Each wrap feed is mounted on a shaft 18 carrying at its upper end a pinion 19 meshing with a rack 20 which is operated by mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 9 et seq. of the Vincent Lombardi Patent 2,373,126. This mechanism operates in a manner similar to that disclosed in said patent. By means of this mechanism, butts 22 on some or all of the sliders 23 for the odd numbered wrap feeds are arranged to be selectively moved (at a point 24) from a groove 25 to a groove-portion 26 for operation of the sliders and rotation of the shafts 18 to cause the odd-numbered wrap feeds to swing in a forward direction. The groove portion 26 is followed by a groove-portion 27 which is parallel to the groove and which leads to a grooveportion 28 which returns to the groove 25 and causes a return movement of the sliders, a reverse rotation of the shafts i3, and a return swing of odd-numbered wrap feeds in the reverse direction. At a point 29 a further selection occurs whereby the even-numbered yarn feeds (or some thereof) are diverted to a groove-portion 30 whereby their sliders 23 are moved to swing the yarn feeds in a forward direction. The groove-portion '30 is succeeded by a groove-portion 31 parallel to the grooveportion 25 and a return groove-portion 32 whereby a return movement of the even-numbered wrap feeds is elt'ectuated.

It is to be noted in Fig. 2, for example, that each of alternate (or odd-numbered counting from the left of the Fig. 2) wrap feeds is adapted to swing past a group of needles (which may be forty, sixty, or more in number but which, for the sake of facility of illustration, is indicated as consisting of twelve needles), and that each group of these needles is juxtaposed to a preceding and succeeding group encompassed by the swing of the next one of these odd-numbered wrap feeds. Each of the intervening wrap feeds, i. e.the even-numbered wrap feeds, counting from the left of Fig. '2-swings past the last six needles encompassed by the swing of the oddnumbered yarn feed at its left and the first of six needles encompassed by the yarn feeds at its right. Iii-other words, the swings of the odd-numbered wrap feeds are tangent to each other, and the swings of the evennumbered wrap feeds are tangent to each other; and, together, the odd-numbered and even-numbered wrap feeds provide a double coverage for the needles.

The selective advancing of the needles is effectuated by means of rocker jacks 35. Each jack is formed with a butt surface 36, movable into and out of the path of movement of advancing cams by means of one of the broken-butt or spaced butt jack arrangements which are well known to the art, such, for example, as those of the Howie Patent 1,784,186, or as exemplified in the Getaz Patent 2,204,731, and the Marshall and Holt Patent 2,040,946, the jacks 35 are formed with selectivelyspaced'butts 37 which are selectively moved inwardly from the normal position in which they are held by the spring 37 so as to be out of the path of movement of the advancing cams by selectively operable earns 38 individually to particular butt-positions. Jacks not so moved by a cam 38 may be regarded as selected for operation by the advancing cams.

In the present instance, means which comprises annular members 39 and 39' and which rotate in the same direction (forward) as the main yarn feeds, carries advancing cams 40 to advance selected jacks and their needles with them for reception by the needles of yarn from each main yarn feed 15, and advancing cams 41 and advancing cams 42 for advancing needles to receive yarn at the wrap feed swings caused by the cam groove-portions 26 and 30 respectively. It also carries advancing cams 43 and 44 for advancing selected jacks and their needles with them for reception by the needles of yarn at the return swings of the wrap feeds caused by the cam groove-portions 28 and 32.

The arrangement exemplified illustrates the manner in which needles are fully advanced to clearing positions in order to receive a yarn and knit. In instances where it is desirable to receive yarn on spaced needles for reception without knitting alternate or otherwise-spaced needles may be provided with a special butt 45, as exemplified in Fig. 11; and, at suitable points in the cam box, there may be provided low earns 47 for raising the needles to tucking position and thin cams 48 adapted to operate on the special butts on spaced ones of the needles to retract those needles so as to leave in tucking position only those needles which do not have the special butts 45, and (or) thin cams 49 adapted to operate on the special butts to raise the aforesaid needles.

In order to retract the advanced needles after reception of yarn from each main yarn feed there is provided earns 50 in the cam box 39; and, in order to retract the needles after reception of yarn following the forward wrap feeds swings caused by the cam groove-portions 26 and 30, respectively, there are provided retracting cams 51 and 52 in the cam box 39.

In order to retract the needles following the return swings of the wrap feeds caused by the cam grooveportions 28 and 32, there is provided in accordance with the invention a plurality of cams carried in a reverselymoving ring 55 and adapted to be moved between operative and inoperative positions. The cam ring 55 is formed with a peripheral gear 56 meshing with a pinion 57 driven by a gear 53 supported on a bracket 60 which carries the forward cam box 39 and revolves in a forward direction under the influence of a main drive gear 61 meshing with a crown gear 62 on a main drive shaft 63. As will be seen, the cam ring 55 moves at the same speed as the cam box 39 with respect to the needle cylinder, but in the opposite direction, so that the speed of the ring 55 with respect to the cam box 3% is twice the speed of the relative movement between the cam box 39 and the needle cylinder. On the reverse cam ring 55 there are carried a plurality of reversely-acting cams 65 which are normally held in inoperative position out against the cam ring by means of springs 66 acting against shoulders 67 on heads 68 at the outer end of stem 69. The cams 65 are arranged, on four levels. In order to move the reverse cam 65 into operative position at desired points in the operation, and to hold them in such position, there is provided, on a support 70 which is carried from the bracket 60, a cam 71 adapted to bear against the heads of the cams on the two lower levels for retracting needles to knit yarn received from the forward wrap feed swings under the influence of the cam groove-portion 28, and a cam 72 adapted to bear against the heads of the cams on the two upper levels to retract them to knit yarn received from the return wrap feed swings under the influence of the return groove-portion 32.

As 'will be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, for example, needle butts are provided on four levels for operation by cams 65, but the butt arrangement on each level is discontinuous. As will be seen, butts are arranged in groups on each level with spaces therebetween in which the cams may be safely moved in and out without interfering with the butts or with the proper sequence of needle actuations. In Figs. 2, 3, and 4, theneedles have been segregated in sub-groups of six needles, corresponding as illustrated to one-half of a yarn feed swing, and certain of these have been indicated respectively by the letters A thru Z. As will be seen, on the upper level, needles in groups A B, EF,'IJ, etc., have butts; but needles in groups CD, GH, K-L, etc., do not have butts. On the second level, needles in groups C-D, G-H, KL, etc., have butts; but needles in groups A-B, EF, IJ, etc.,do not have butts. On the third level, needles in groups BC, FG, IK, etc., have butts; whereas needles in sub-group A and groups D-E, HI, L-M, etc., do not have butts. On the lower level, needles in sub-group A and groups DE, H-I, L-M, etc., have butts; whereas needles in groups BC, FG, JK, etc., do not have butts. The cams on each level are spaced a distance 'of eight sub-groups apart so that the movements thereof in and out will be synchronized with the general operation of the machine in accordance with the butt locations. As will be seen, each needle has butts on two levels; but the arrangement of the earns 71 and 72 is such that no two of the cams 65 will be operative upon the same needle at the same time.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, the actual selection of the needle butts is that which would occurin the knitting of contiguous diamonds 75 (Fig 5) of one color by the odd-numbered wrap feeds, and the knitting of intervening contiguous diamonds 76 by the even feeds. The knitting is at the stage indicated by the line 77.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the actual selection of needle butts is that which would occur in the knitting of a series of pyramidal triangles 78 (Fig. 8) of one color and with parallel bases by odd-numbered wrap feeds on a background 78 wherein the main yarn is knitted, prior to the knitting of inverted pyramidal triangles 79 by the even-numbered yarn feeds on the same main-yarn background. The main yarn is inlaid thru the triangles. The knitting is at the stage indicated by the lines 79' and 79".

As above set forth, the wrap feeds and the wrap-feed operating mechanism are supported on a superstructure dial 17 and the wrap-feed-operating mechanism is actuated by mechanism carried on a forwardly-rotating annulus 80 and including a selecting drum 81 as set forth in said Patent No. 2,373,126. In order to provide a compact and effective mounting arrangement for the superstructure dial 17 and the rotating annulus 80 and to provide an arrangement which will permit a maximum of access to the machine proper when production has been stopped for adjustment or repair, the invention contemplates the mounting of the superstructure dial 17 and the rotating annulus 80 on a plurality of posts 82 mounted on the rotating brackets 60. On each post 82 there is provided a sleeve 83 which carries gears 87 and 88. Gear 87 meshes with an internal gear on an annulus 90 which carries the superstructure dial. Gear 88 meshes with an internal gear on an annulus 91 freely carried, as by means of ball hearings, on stationary support 92 mounted on stationary brackets 93. Freely mounted on the annulus 91, as by means of ball bearings, is an annulus 94 which moves with the post 82 pursuant to the provision of an encircling bracket 95, and which is provided with bores 96 thru which main yarn may extend to the main yarn feeds 15. The annulus 90 is, in turn, freely mounted upon the annulus 94, as by means of ball bearings.

In order that different colored patterns of wrap yarn may be formed walewise of each other along a fabric, or that portions of wrap yarn of varying characteras wool yarn, nylon yarn, metal yarn, etc-may be so formed, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, means to shog the superstructure dial at selected times in the operation of the machine to step the wrap feeds a sufiicient distance so that one wrap feed may be positioned where another wrap feed had been positioned. While, in the present instance, each wrap feed replaces another wrap feed, it will be apparent that the mechanism is adapted for use with a variety of wrap feed arrangements.

To this end, there is provided, pursuant to the invention a drive gear 97 meshing with an external gear on the annulus 91 and mounted on a shaft 98 extending to a worm wheel 99 which meshes with a worm 100 fixed to a sleeve 101. On the sleeve 101 is a gear 102 connected thru a gear-train 103 to a ratchet-wheel 108 driven step-by-step by a reciprocating pawl 109, which is operated from the main drive 63 by driving means 110. The pawl has a lateral extension 111 adapted to be lifted by protuberances 112 on a pattern chain 113 rotating on a sprocket 114. The sprocket is secured to a ratchet wheel 116 controlled by a reciprocating pawl 118. Since the worm will turn the worm-wheel but the worm-wheel cannot turn the worm, a rotation of the worm pursuant to the rotation of the ratchet wheel 108 by the pawl 109 will result in the rotation of the worm-wheel 99, with a resulting stepped rotation of the annulus 90 and the superstructure dial 17 thru the medium of the gears 88 and 87 which will shift each of the wrap feeds 16 a distance equal to the distance between wrap feeds, sothat at each step each wrap feed willbe replaced by the next wrap at times when there is no protuberance on the operative chain link. By suitable arrangement of the protuberances 112 on the chain, the shifting of wrap feeds can be provided for at such short or long intervals as may be desirable to effectuate the knitting of a particular pattern. At points where there are protuberances on the chain, no stresses or pressures on the worm-wheel 99 can move it, since it is unable to move the worm.

Sinkers 200 are slidably mounted in the usual manner on a sinker bed 201 which is stationary in the present instance and are operated by a sinker cap 202 which is rotated by connections 203 in the present instance. The sinkers are operated in the normal manner in connection with forward advancing and retracting needle action and are withdrawn during periods, as indicated at 204 when the reversely-moving cams are operative.

The main yarn feeds 15 in the present instance are in the form of stripers, being pivotally mounted at 205 so that they can be removed, as when the fabric of Fig. 5 is being knitted.

There are provided in addition to the mechanism described above, usual or suitable mechanisms for effecting the operations disclosed. Such mechanisms include jack retracting cams 210 acting on butts 211 on the JBCkS, and restoring cam-portions 212.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A circular kntting machine comprising bed means, knitting elements on said bed means, actuating means for said knitting elements, one of said means being stationary and the other of said means being mounted for relative rotation so that the knitting elements will be actuated oneby-one counting in one direction, and additional means to actuate said knitting elements one-by-one counting i the opposite direction, said additional means comprising a cam rotating on the axis of said relative rotation so as to pass said knitting elements in said opposite direction at the speed of relative rotation and so as to pass said other of said means at twice the speed of said relative rotation, means to move said cam between operative and inoperative positions, and knitting-element-selecting means for selecting desired ones of said knitting elements to be actuated by said cam at times when it 1s operative and for leaving knitting elements unselected at times it is being moved between operative and inoperative positions.

2. A knitting machine as in claim 1 wherein said additional means comprises a plurality of such cams operative in selected portions of said relative movement.

3. A circular knitting machine comprising a stationary needle cylinder, needles on said cylinder, rotatable needle manipulating mechanism comprising means for actuating the needles one-by-one counting in one direction, additional needle-manipulating mechanism comprising means rotatable in the opposite direction, the last mentionedactuating means comprising a cam and means to move said cam between operative and inoperative positions, a drive element mounted on the first-mentioned rotatable mechanism, mounting means for said cam, and cooperative gearing carried by said drive element and said mounting means for driving the latter.

4. A knitting machine as in claim 3 wherein there is provided a normally-stationary annulus, a dial freely supported thereby, and cooperative gearing carried on said drive element and said annulus and dial for imparting driving movement to said drive element in response to the rotation of said first-mentioned rotatable'mechanism;

5. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein there is provided a plurality of wrap feeds carried-on said dial wrap feed operating means rotatably carried by said dial and. operated thru means freely associated with said 1 drive element, said annulus being arranged for selective rotative movement, and means associated with said annulus for imparting such movement to said annulus and to said dial.

6. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the knitting elements are needles.

7. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein wrap feeds feed yarn to the needles first in said one direction for knitting in said one direction pursuant to actuations of said actuating mechanism and then in said opposite direction for knitting in said opposite direction pursuant to the 'actuations of said other means.

8. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said knitting elements are sinkers.

9. A circular knitting machine comprising a series of knitting elements arranged in groups of adjacent knitting elements about the machine, certain of said groups of adjacent knitting elements having butts on one level and other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements having butts on another level, a cam operating on butts on said one level and movable between operative and inoperative positions, a cam operating in a given direction on butts on said other level and movable in a transverse direction between operative and inoperative positions, means to move the first-mentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said certain of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to move the first-mentioned cam out of operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by 'it along said certain of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to so move the second-mentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to so move the second-mentioned cam out of operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it'along said other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, and means operative on at least certain of said knitting elements in a direction opposite to said given direction at certain times when said cams are inoperative thereon.

10. A circular knitting machine comprising a series of knitting elements arranged in groups of adjacent knittingelements about the machine, certain of said-groups of adjacent knitting elements having butts on one level and other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements having butts on another level, a cam operating on butts on said one level and movable between operative and inoperative positions, in a given direction on butts on said other level and movable in a transverse direction between operative and inoperative positions, means to so move the firstmentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said certain of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to so move the first-mentioned cam out of operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said certain of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to so move the second-mentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, means to so move the second-mentioned cam out ofoperative osition at a point intermediate successive passages by it along said other of said groups of adjacent knitting elements, wherein the knitting elements of a subgroup of adjacent knitting elements of said certain of said groups and a sub-group of adjacent knitting elements of said other of said groups have butts on a third level, wherein other knitting elements of said certain of said groups and of said other of said groups have butts on'a fourth level, and wherein there is provided a cam so operating on butts on said third level and so movable between operative and inoperative positions, a cam so operating on butts on said fourth level and so movable between operative and inoperative positions, means to so move'the third-mentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it past butts on said third level, means to so move the third-mentioned cam out of operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it past butts on said third level, means to so move the fourth-mentioned cam into operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it past butts on said fourth level, and means to so move the fourth-mentioned cam out of operative position at a point intermediate successive passages by it past butts on said fourth level.

11. A circular knitting machine comprising a series of knitting elements having a plurality of butts spaced therealong on a plurality of levels, a cam ring carrying a plurality of cams respectively operative in a given direction on butts on said levels, breaks in the lines of said butts, means to mount said cams for movement in a transverse direction between operative and inoperative positions, means to move said cams between said positions at the respective points where said breaks occur, and means operative on at least certain of said knitting elements in a direction opposite to said given direction at certain times when said cams are inoperative thereon.

12. A circular knitting machine comprising a series of knitting elements, said knitting elements having butts variously arranged on four levels but each knitting element having butts on only two of said levels, cams on each of the four levels, said cams and said knitting elements being mounted for relative rotation, means to move each of said cams into and out of operative position at points where there are no butts on its level, said butts and said moving means being so arranged that no two cams will be in operative position during said relative rotation as they approach a knitting element having butts on the levels of both of said cams.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein advancing cams moving in a forward direction are provided and wherein the cam means on said four levels are reversely-moving retracting cams.

14. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein there are provided a plurality of Wrap feeds swingable first in a forward direction and then in a return direction wherein a forward-moving cam serves to retract advanced needles following forward swings of the wrap feeds, and wherein the cams on the various levels serve to retract the knitting elements following the return swings of said yarn feeds.

15. A knitting machine as set forth in claim l4 wherein there are provided a plurality of wrap feeds the swings of which are tangent to each other, and a plurality of other wrap feeds the axes of the swings of which are on the points of such tangency and the swings of which are tangent to each other on the axes of the previously mentioned swings, and means to selectively cause swinging movement by said wrap feeds.

16. In or for a circular knitting machine, a plurality of wrap feeds evenly spaced about the machine, a support for said wrap feeds, means to mount said support, and means to impart rotative movement in only one direction to said support in an amount divisible by the distance between successive wrap feeds to yield a whole number and thereafter impart rotative movement to said support in said direction in a similar amount, in order to bring different Wrap feeds into particular positions from time to time during the operation of the machine.

17. A knitting machine comprising a bed, knitting elements on said bed, actuating means therefor, said bed and said actuating means being mounted for relative rotation,

a wrap-feed support normally forming a unit with said bed in said relative rotation, a plurality of wrap feeds on said support regularly spaced about said bed, and means to mount said support for a rotative repetitive stepping action in only one direction whereby any of a plurality of said wrap feeds will replace another of said wrap feeds in proximity to particular knitting elements, means to so step said support, and means synchronized with the operation of said relative rotation for actuating such stepping means.

18. A knitting machine asset forth in claim 17 wherein there are provided selecting means to control the timing of said stepping means.

19. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein the stepping means includes a worm, a worm wheel meshing with said worm, and mechanism driven by said worm wheel for stepping said support.

20. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said selecting means is in the form of a pattern chain.

21. A circular knitting machine as set forth in claim 20 wherein the stepping means includes a pawl-andratchet shogging means.

22. A circular knitting machine comprising a needle cylinder, needles on said cylinder, actuating mechanism for the needles, said needle cylinder and said actuating mechanism being mounted for relative rotation, supporting means independent of but forming a unit with said cylinder in said relative rotation, mounting means forming a unit with said actuating mechanism in said relative rotation, a post on said mounting means, an annulus carried on said supporting means, superstructure mounted on said annulus, gearing connecting said post and said superstructure so that said superstructure normally forms a unit with said cylinder in said relative rotation, and a plurality of wrap feeds mounted on said superstructure.

23. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 22 wherein there is provided wrap feed actuating mechanism, a support therefor freely carried by said superstructure, and means connecting said post to said freely-carried support to cause it to rotate with said post.

24. A knitting machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are provided a plurality of wrap feeds evenly spaced about the machine, a support for said wrap feeds, means to mount said support, and means to impart rotative movement to said support in amounts divisible by the 10 distance between successive wrap feeds in order to bring different wrap feeds into particular positions from time to time during the operation of the machine.

25. A circular knitting machine comprising a series of knitting elements having a plurality of butts spaced therealong in groups of at least twelve butts on adjacent knitting elements on at least four levels, a cam ring carrying a plurality of cams respectively operative in a given direction on butts on said levels, breaks in the lines of said butts, means to mount said cams for movement in a transverse direction between operative and inoperative positions, and means to move said cams between said positions at the respective points where said breaks occur.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,641 Jones Feb. 2, 1932 1,864,321 Robinson June 21, 1932 2,231,672 Lombardi Feb. 11, 1941 2,231,673 Lombardi Feb. 11, 1941 2,263,492 Grothey Nov. 18, 1941 2,283,995 Hutton et al May 26, 1942 2,301,065 Mills Nov. 3, 1942 2,330,269 Coleman et al Sept. 28, 1943 2,378,315 Minton June 12, 1945 2,378,316 Minton June 12, 1945 2,411,422 Grothey Nov. 19, 1946 2,473,944 Fregeolle June 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 328,026 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1930 523,232 Great Britain July 9, 1940 

